The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is a Federal-State partnership whose mission it is to improve the quality of life for the residents of the Mississippi Delta. The Delta Regional Authority serves 252 counties and parishes in parts of eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Led by a Federal Co-Chairman appointed by the President and the governors of the eight states, the DRA fosters partnerships throughout the region as it works to improve the Delta economy. DRA funds can be used to leverage other federal and state programs.
Under federal law, at least 75 percent of DRA funds must be invested in economically distressed counties and parishes. Half of DRA funds are awarded for transportation and basic infrastructure improvements.
About
The 1990 report of the Lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission spurred efforts to direct federal economic assistance toward the Lower Mississippi River Valley region.[2] The region, as defined in the Lower Mississippi Delta Development Act of 1988, consisted of 219 counties in Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois and was the poorest in the United States, with a poverty rate of 22% compared to a national rate of 12%.[3] In 1998, PresidentBill Clinton, an Arkansas native, proposed channeling $26 million in federal aid to the region through the Appalachian Regional Commission, but Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice opposed the plan, fearing it would divert aid from the Appalachian Region, including several counties in northern Mississippi.[2] Instead, Congress funneled the allocation through the Department of Agriculture, but the Department said it was unable to comply with Congress' intent without more specific direction.[2]
In 1999, Arkansas DemocratsSenatorBlanche Lincoln and RepresentativeMarion Berry introduced the Delta Regional Authority Act of 1999[4] to create the Delta Regional Authority to administer funds allocated to the region.[2] The legislation was co-sponsored by Arkansas Republican Senator Tim Hutchinson, Tennessee Republican Senator Bill Frist, and Tennessee Democratic Representative Harold Ford Jr.[2] Clinton announced in December 1999 that he would include $30 million in funding for the Authority in his next budget proposal.[3] Mississippi Republican Senator Thad Cochran become the leading voice against the legislation, opining that the money should be channeled to the Delta Region through existing agencies such as colleges and universities.[5]
The DRA footprint includes 252 counties and parishes across 8 states. Since 2002, DRA has invested in 934 projects represented by the blue and yellow dots with yellow representing FY 2015 projects. Source: dra.gov/sedap
In 2000, Congress established the Delta Regional Authority to enhance economic development and improve the quality of life for the residents of the Lower Mississippi River Delta region.[6]
The Delta Regional Authority is a regional economic development agency serving 252 counties and parishes in the following eight states:
The DRA is led by two presidential appointees, Federal Co-Chairman (FCC) and Alternate Federal Co-Chairman (AFCC), along with a State Co-Chairman and the governor of each participating state. It is designed to remedy severe and chronic economic distress by stimulating economic development and fostering partnerships that will have a positive impact on the region’s economy.
Mission
The Delta Regional Authority helps economically distressed communities to leverage other federal and state programs in the four Congressionally mandated priority funding categories:
Basic public infrastructure in distressed counties and isolated areas of distress;
Transportation infrastructure for the purpose of facilitating economic development in the region;
Business development, with emphasis on entrepreneurship; and
Workforce development or employment-related education, with emphasis on use of existing public educational institutions located in the region.
Outcomes
Since the inception of the DRA Federal Funding Program, known as the States' Economic Development Assistance Program since 2010, the following projected outcomes have been documented:
64,831 families have received improved water and sewer; and[citation needed]
7,202 individuals have been trained for jobs.[citation needed]
Impact
DRA has contributed $138,358,642 to 934 projects in its eight-state region towards a total investment in those projects of $890,612,847.[citation needed]
DRA total project investment includes an additional leverage of $752,254,205 in other federal, state and local funds, which is a ratio of 5.44 to 1. [citation needed]
In addition, private funds invested in these projects total $2,208,673,037, which is a ratio of 15.96 to 1, private dollars to DRA dollars.[citation needed]
Total leveraged investment of $2,960,927,242 including federal, state, local and private funds produced a ratio of 21.4 to 1.[citation needed]
Partnerships
At the local level, the Delta Regional Authority coordinates efforts with a combination of agencies. Assisting the Delta Regional Authority are local development districts ("LDDs"), regional entities with a proven track record of helping municipalities, counties and parishes improve basic infrastructure and stimulate growth.
DRA partners with USDA's Rural Development (RDA) Program. Through their network of state and local offices, the RDA assists the Delta Regional Authority with the Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) program. DRA also partnered with the Economic Development Association (EDA) by conducting community evaluations related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Additionally, the Delta Regional Authority works with each member state's Department of Economic Development, local development districts, Departments of Transportation, governor’s offices, Department of Health, Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, congressional offices and city and county government.[7]
Programs and initiatives
The Delta Regional Authority is involved in numerous efforts to improve the lives of the people it serves. The following programs are currently under operation throughout the Authority's region:[8]
DRA Growing a Health Workforce in the Delta Initiative (HDI);
Delta Doctors Program (DDP);
BF Smith Foundation– Adult Literacy/Workforce Training (BFS);
Jefferson County may refer to one of 26 extant counties or parishes in the United States, all of which are named directly or indirectly after Thomas Jefferson:
The Great River Road is a collection of state and local roads that follow the course of the Mississippi River through ten states of the United States. They are Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. It formerly extended north into Canada, serving the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. The road is designated as both a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road in several states along the route.
The North American Central Time Zone (CT) is a time zone in parts of Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, and some Caribbean islands.
The Mississippi River Alluvial Plain is an alluvial plain created by the Mississippi River on which lie parts of seven U.S. states, from southern Louisiana to southern Illinois.
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a United States federal–state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. Congress established ARC to bring the region into socioeconomic parity with the rest of the nation.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) is responsible for the Corps water resources programs within 370,000-square-miles of the Mississippi River Valley, as well as the watershed portions of the Red River of the North that are within the United States. It encompasses the entire Mississippi River from Lake Itasca, Minnesota, to the Gulf of Mexico. It excludes the watersheds of the Missouri River and Ohio River, and portions of the Arkansas River and the Red River of the South. The division includes all or parts of 13 states: Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.
Sigma Alpha Iota (ΣΑΙ) is an international music fraternity. Formed to "uphold the highest standards of music" and "to further the development of music in America and throughout the world", it continues to provide musical and educational resources to its members and the general public. Sigma Alpha Iota operates its own national philanthropy, Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc. Sigma Alpha Iota is a member of the National Interfraternity Music Council and the Professional Fraternity Association.
The Water Resources Development Act of 1986 is part of Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law 99–662, a series of acts enacted by Congress of the United States on November 17, 1986.
The Water Resources Development Act of 1996 is part of Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law 104–303 (text)(PDF), was enacted by Congress of the United States on October 12, 1996. Most of the provisions of WRDA 1996 are administered by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
The Water Resources Development Act of 1992, Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law 102–580, was enacted by Congress of the United States on October 31, 1992. Most of the provisions of WRDA 1992 are administered by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
The Water Resources Development Act of 1999, Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law 106–53 (text)(PDF), was enacted by Congress of the United States on August 17, 1999. Most of the provisions of WRDA 1999 are administered by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
The Water Resources Development Act of 2000, Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law 106–541 (text)(PDF), was enacted by Congress of the United States on December 11, 2000. Most of the provisions of WRDA 2000 are administered by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
The Mississippi River was an important military highway that bordered ten states, roughly equally divided between Union and Confederate loyalties.
1 2 3 4 5 Brosnan, James W. (September 22, 1999). "Area Lawmakers to Unveil Plan for Aid to Delta's Poor". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. p.A13.
↑ "Musgrove to Make Pitch for Delta Authority in Washington Session". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. The Associated Press. April 12, 2000. p.DS6.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
